adj Uncommon

literate

LIH-tuh-ruht

Literate (adj) means Able to read and write. Example: “The program aims to make sure every child in the district is literate by age eight.”

adj

Able to read and write.

"The program aims to make sure every child in the district is literate by age eight."

Well informed or knowledgeable in a particular area.

"You don't need to be especially computer-literate to use this app."

How to use literate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAble to read and write, or well-versed in a given subject.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with literary (relating to books/writing as an art form) — literate describes a person's ability or knowledge.

Easily confused with

literary → literal →

more literate comparative, literates plural, most literate superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

The program aims to make sure every child in the district is _____ by age eight.

From Latin litteratus, from littera ("letter"); a doublet of the words literato and literatus.

Origin: Latin

ate date rate mate fate abate slate plate state grate create update

What does “literate” mean?

The word “literate” means able to read and write. In plain terms, able to read and write, or well-versed in a given subject.

How do you pronounce “literate”?

“Literate” is pronounced LIH-tuh-ruht (/ˈlɪtəɹət/ in IPA).

How do you use “literate” in a sentence?

Here is “literate” used in a sentence: “The program aims to make sure every child in the district is literate by age eight.”

What part of speech is “literate”?

“Literate” is an adjective.

Where does the word “literate” come from?

The word “literate” comes from Latin. From Latin litteratus, from littera ("letter"); a doublet of the words literato and literatus.

Is “literate” a common word?

“Literate” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “literate” have?

“Literate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: able to read and write.